Safeguarding

Safeguarding overview

Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School is aware of its duty and responsibility, which it has with regard to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of children and young people:

‘Our school is committed to safeguarding children and promoting children’s welfare and expects all staff, governors, volunteers and visitors to share this commitment and maintain a vigilant and safe environment. Everyone has a responsibility to act, without delay, to protect children by reporting anything that might suggest a child is being abused or neglected. It is our willingness to work safely and challenge inappropriate behaviours that underpins this commitment. The school seeks to work in partnership with families and other agencies to improve the outcomes for children who are vulnerable or in need.’

‘Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families and carers has a role to play in safeguarding children. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all professionals should make sure their approach is child-centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child.’ (DFE 2018)

Working Together to Safeguard Children (DfE 2018) provides additional guidance which makes it clear that protecting children from harm and promoting their welfare depends upon a shared responsibility and effective joint working between different agencies:

‘Everyone who works with children has a responsibility for keeping them safe. No single practitioner can have a full picture of a child’s needs and circumstances and, if children and families are to receive the right help at the right time, everyone who comes into contact with them has a role to play in identifying concerns, sharing information and taking prompt action.’

Key information for parents

‘The school ensures children learn in a safe, caring and enriching environment. Children are taught how to keep themselves safe, to develop positive and healthy relationships, how to avoid situations where they might be at risk including by being exploited.

The school also has a statutory responsibility to share any concerns it might have about a child in need of protection with other agencies and in particular police, health and children’s services. Schools are not able to investigate child protection concerns but have a legal duty to refer them. In most instances the school will be able to inform the parents/carer of its need to make a referral. However, sometimes the school can in certain circumstances share information without the consent of the family and may be advised by children’s services or police that the parent/carer cannot be informed whilst they investigate the matter or make enquires. We understand the anxiety parents/carers understandably feel when they are not told about any concerns from the outset. The school follows legislation that aims to act in the interests of the child.

The school will always seek to work in partnership with parents and other agencies to ensure the best possible outcomes for the child and family’

If you have any questions regarding these policies please contact the school's Designated Safeguarding Lead, Ms J Leech (Deputy Headteacher).

Roles, responsibilities and key contacts

The Headteacher is: Ms Smyth

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for Child Protection is: Ms J Leech (Deputy Head) available on 0151 235 1430 or email at j.leech@cardinal-heenan.org.uk

Those trained to provide cover for the role of Designated Safeguarding Lead (DepSL) are:

The Chair of Governors and nominated governor for dealing with allegations against the Head Teacher is: Andrew Tremarco

What happens if a concern is raised?

The school has a statutory responsibility to share any concerns it might have about a child in need of protection with other agencies and in particular police, health and children's services. Schools are not able to investigate concerns but have a legal duty to refer them to statutory services such as the Police or Social Services.

In most instances the school will be able to inform the parents/carer of its need to make a referral. However, sometimes the school is advised by children's services or police that the parent/carer cannot be informed whilst they investigate the matter.

We understand the anxiety parents/carers understandably feel when they are not told about any concerns from the outset. The school follows legislation that aims to act in the interests of the child. You can find further details in our policy here.

Operation Encompass

Operation Encompass is a city wide initiative designed for schools to put in place immediate support for children affected by domestic violence. You can download a copy of the Operation Encompass document, which is a Merseyside multi-agency protocol aimed at offering early intervention and support for children and young people who experience domestic abuse in their household, at the bottom of the page.

Extremism and radicalisation – the Prevent Duty

The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 places a duty upon local authorities and educational providers to ‘have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism’. The DfE has provided statutory guidance for schools and child care providers: ‘The Prevent Duty’ (June 2015). The guidance summarises the requirements on schools and child care providers in terms of four general themes: risk assessment, working in partnership, staff training and IT policies. Our school will ensure that staff are aware of the indicators of extremism and radicalisation and no how to respond in keeping with Local and national guidance. Staff will use their judgement in identifying children who might be at risk of radicalisation and act proportionately which may include making a referral to the Channel programme. Equally children will be made aware of the risks and support available to them. We will ensure that children are safe from terrorist and extremist material when accessing the internet in schools. The Government has developed an ‘educate against hate’ website providing information and resources for schools and parents to support them to recognise and address extremism and radicalisation in young people.

Radicalisation is defined the process by which people come to support terrorism and extremism and, in some cases, to then participate in terrorist activity.

Extremism is defined as vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs; we also include in our definition of extremism calls for the death of members of the armed forces

Useful guidance has been published by the Educate against Hate organisation.